Earlier in the month we talked about the effects Google's badware warnings were having on websites and website owners as well as the reported rise in false flaggings.  Many site owners were upset at the difficult appeals process needed to rectify a false flag.

In response to those outcries from webmasters and website owners, Google has posted a little clarification on the policies surrounding the service that stops Google users from visiting sites that contain malicious code.

A post on the Official Google Webmaster Central Blog says that Google's intention is to prevent its users from visiting websites that might compromise their computers.  By stopping people from visiting websites flagged as malicious, Google hopes to help keep users from loosing money through phishing and hijacking scams.

The search company also reiterated that the easiest way to find out if your site has been flagged is to use the Google Webmaster Tools.  Sites that have been flagged will receive a notification in the Webmaster Tools management area.  That notification contains information on the appeals process as well.  The post also says that Google is looking for ways to give webmasters with flagged websites more information.

If your site has been flagged as malicious, and you can't find the cause of the problem and think you have been misflagged, you must send an email to appeals@stopbadware.org and have your site evaluated.  You can also use the webmaster discussions forums to discuss the issue directly with Google.

As I've said before, I think the service is good for your average Internet users.  I think it's nice that Google is trying to help stop the spread of badware.  But I also think the service could be very dangerous.  Google wants to keep people from loosing money to identity theft scams.  But at the same time, people can loose money and have irreparable damage done to their business with a false flag.

It's a slippery slope and Google must proceed cautiously.